Switch



Aug. 19, 1930. H. RHODES SWITCH Filed Sept 6. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 19, 1930. M H. RHODES SWITCH Filed Sept 6, 1929 5 Sheets'Sheat 2 m gaa M. H. RHODES SWITCH Filed Sept 6. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 19, 1930.

Aug. 19, 1930. M. H. RHODES 1,773,697

swz'rcn Filed Sept s. 1929 s Sheets-'Sneet 4 Aug. 19, 1930. RHODES v 1,773,697

SWITCH Filed Sept 6. 3.929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 19, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARCUS H. RH ODES, OI UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI SWITCH v I Application filed September 6, 1929. Serial No. 390,689.

This invention relates to electric switches, 44 of Fig. 1, certain parts having been and with regard to certain more specific fea removed for clarity; tures, to timed, delayed action switches. Fig. 5 is a developed view showing a gear Among the several objects of the inventrain and connected parts such as used in 'tion may be noted the provision of-an elecone form of the invention, the development tric switch having improved means for efbeing defined and taken along line 5-5 of fecting a hi her speed of circuit making and Fig. 2; breaking; t e provision of a switch having Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section similar to 1 a dela ed action subsequent to actuation F ig.2 but on a reduced scale, showing a secthereof? there bein provided controllable 0nd form of the invention; means for varying by increments the time" Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing of delay; the provisionof a switch of the a third form of the invention; class described in which one of said incre- Fig. ,8 is a detail elevation showing a. ments is of a different quantum than the main gear;

15 others;the rovision of a switch of the class Fig. 9 is a detail showing a main spring described w ich may have the timed delay pawl; and,

feature temporarily thrown out of opera- Fig. 10 is a plan view of a pawl.

tion to permit non-delay action; the pro- Similar reference characters indicate corvision of a device of the class described responding parts throughout the several 20 which merely by eliminating parts and withviews of thedrawings.

out substantial additions or re designing Referring now more particularly to Fig. may be changed to function according to a 1, there is illustrated at numeral 10 a cover different timing; and the provision of a plate fastened down by two cover plate switch of the class described which shall screws 53 to a lower U-shaped plate 1 (see 25 be of maximum simplicity and ruggedness Fig. 4 for the U-shape of plate 1). The and which shall be adapted to operate in all cover plate 10 is provided with op i g 56 positions thereof and under all circumand 57, the former for accommodating an stances to positively start timing action. oscillatory timing control handle or lever 8 Other objects will be in part obvious and and the latter for accommodating an oscil- 30 in part pointed out hereinaft n latory switching or circuit control lever 3, 0

The invention accordingly comprises the b h levers extending outwardly through elements and combination of elements, feathe openings 56, 57 from the inside of the tures of construction, and arrangements of wit h. The functlon of the switch ng lever parts, which will b xem lifi d in th t 3 1S to malce and break the c1rcu1t and also 35 turehereinafter describe and the scope of to mampulated actuated rying th li ti f hi h ill b i di t d the time of current flow after the switch lever i th f ll i l i 3 has been set to off position; and the pur- In the accompanying drawings in which pose of the time lever 8 is to set the switch are illustrated several of the various oseither timed or i 0 sible embodiments of the invention: p The opemng 56 1S provlded Wlth a lilght 58 g 1 is a p View of a Switch y for displaying one portion of the periphery th th b h of a time indicator wheel 35, also located -1ng e mven 1on, e same emg s own as Within the Switch Set f m e d circuit b k acfi?ni The cover plate screws 53 hold the cover 45 g- 2 a vertlcalalongltudlnal sectlon 10 to said U-plate 1 (see Fig. 2) and U-plate 5 taken llne of a Support screws 51 hold the said U-plate 1 to a porceing P g shflwn as lain box 25 (see Fig. This box 25 forms Fig. 3 1s a vertical longitudinal sectlon an insulating housing for the switch parts. taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; Pole pieces or line terminals 5 and 6 are sup- 50 Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line ported therein, said pieces carrying contactscrews 50 for fastening line wires or the like. Stationary knife blade extensions 59 and GO depend from the poles 5 and 6 respectively for engagement by and with pairs of upwardly extending spring contactors or terminal engaging elements 11, said contactors 11 being formed integrally with a connecting bar 61, the latter being fastened with rivets 29 to a fibre contactor slide 24. The slide 2+1.- slidably rests upon guides 62 formed integrally with the bottom of the porcelain box 25. It will be recognized that when the contactor 11, 24:, (i1 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 that it is in circuit closing position with respect to the poles 5, (i. \Vhen the contactor is moved to the left the circuit is open, because the contactors ll disengage from the blades 59, 60. In order to facilitate contacting, the extensions 59, (50 are somewhat sharpened as indicated at numeral 63 for ready engagement with flared cars 64: of the pairs of spring contactors 11. Operation of the contactors 11' is etiected by forming an opening 65 next to the off-set connectin bar 61 and through the fibre slider 24. his opening is substantially rectangular in shape. Coordinating with and within this opening 65 is a depending tongue 66 of a switch hammer a, said hammer st being adapted to swing on gudgeons 67 extending from portions of the U-plate 1 (see Fig. 4;). It will be noted that the switch hammer can swing freely through a substantial arc of approximately twenty-live degrees before striking the ends of the opening 65, thus providing a lost-motion engagement.

y The switch hammer 4: is provided with a spring-seating extension 68 for receiving a switch spring to, the spring being shown in Fig. 3 but omitted in Fig. 4: for purposes of clarity. The spring extends upwardly and reaches against the lower rounded end 69 of a switch lever 3, the latter being swung on a s-wit'h l.\'G1 pin 28 fastened between the sides of the U-plate 1. It will be seen thus far that the switch hammer 4:, switch lever 3 and reacting switch spring form an over-centering, toggle linkage. The action of this linkage is such that when the upper reaction point 93 of the spring at the rounded end 69 crosses the center line CL of the switch hammer, for instance, to the right, then the spring is put under compression and tends to throw the switch hammer to the left, provided there is no other mechanism to prevent it. For example, in Fig. 3 the spring is in compr ssed reacting position for throwing the switch hammer sharply in a clockwise direction to the left, whereupon the tongue 66 will gain momentum in passing through its lostmotion path in the opening 65. Then the tongue 66 strikes the left-hand end of the opening with a sharp blow and instantly throws the contactors 11 out of engagement said center line CL which will at that time be in the open switch position to the left. This passage over the center line throws the spring reaction into an over-centering relationshi such that the switch hammer is suddenly orced to assume a counter-clockwise movement. The tongue 66 travels with loss of motion in the reverse direction through the opening 65 and strikes the right hand thereof with a sudden blow, thereby quickly snapping the switch shut, the contactors 11 moving to the right into engagement with extensions of the poles 5, 6. It is to be noted that when the switch lever 3 is thrown for closing the switch, that the switch closes immediately, there being no delaying action in the mechanism such as will be explained in connection with opening the switch from the closed position. In this connection, it will be noted that Fig. 3 shows the toggle linkage in such position that the spring is compressed and over-centered and ready to throw the switch hammer so as to open the switch, but there is a temporary mechanical restraint which will now be described.

The parts above described are in one compartment of the box 25. This compartment is defined by the right side of the box (Fig. 4) part of the bottom thereof, including the guides 62, and one side 70 of the U-plate 1 (see the right hand portion of Fig. 4.). The other compartment is defined by the left wall of the box 25 (Fig. l), the remainder of the bottom of the box and by a flat plate 2 which by means of plate spacers 26 is spacedly mounted with respect to one wall 70 of the U-plate 1 (see the left hand side of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4). An arcuate opening 71 in the wall 70 of the U-plate 1 accommodates an extension car 72 of the switch hammer 4. The function of this extension is to be held and released for delaying purposes. The coordinating latching apparatus therefor will be described hereinafter.

Pivoted to the switch lever 3 by means of a rivet 37 is a pawl 7 which has an ear 73 provided for fastening a pawl spring 46 which reacts from the switch pin 28 to hold an oppositely extending ear 74 in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 18 located in said left hand compartment (for clarity, the spring 16 is shown in Fig. 3 but not in Fig. 4s). The ear 74 is pulled into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet 18 when ever lever 3 is thrown into its on position and in the off position of the lever 3 said pawl ear 74 is drawn up against the side of an opening 71S, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so as to permit clearing of the ratchet teeth by the car 74 when it is desired to return the ratchet teeth according to the functions hereinafter set out. As will be made clear, the advance of the ratchet is one tooth every time the switch lever is thrown to on position. In other words, when the lever 3 moves from off to on position, the pawl 74 rides down the left face of the openlng 7lS and engages a tooth such as X (Fig. 2) for advancement through an arc corresponding to the are occupied b one ratchet tooth. The switch lever may e' serially or repeatedly operated to advance the ratchet step by step. i

The ratchet 18 (Fig. 4) is integrally movable with a main spring hub 30 and also with a main spring pawl wheel 13 so that the ratchet 18, hub 30 and main spring pawl 13 may turn together. On the other hand, there is provided a main gear wheel 19 which is relatively rotatable with respect to said parts 13, 18, 30. i

A detail plan of the gear wheel 19 is shown in Fig. 8 and a detail plan of the main spring pawl 13 is shown in Fig. 9. Examination of the Figs. Sand 9 shows that the gear 19 is provided with openings 76 with which are matched by detents 77 of pawl 13, a plurality of which detents are used. The detents 77 are formed in such a direction and engage such gear openings 76 in such a manner that when the operation of lever 3 results in movement of the ratchet 18, return of said ratchet under action'of spring 44 is prevented by the engagement of the side detents 77 with cermin of the gear wheel openings 76. The gear wheel. resists return action of the ratchet18 caused by the initially provided tension in the main spring 44, because the gear train into which it is connected is at this time locked against movement.

The timing gear train referred to in the paragraph above is shown more particularly in Fig. 5 wherein the gear 19 is shown as meshing with a pinion 21. 1 Said pinion2l is integrally rotatable with a gear 20 which meshes with a second pinion 32. A second gear wheel 20A is integrally movable with the pinion 32 and meshes with a third pinion 33 the latter being made fast with a third gear wheel 20- 15. This last wheel 20-13 meshes with a pinion 78 which is integrally movable with an escapement wheel 22. 'The escapement wheel 22 is controlled by a vibrating anchor escapement piece or pallet 14 pivoted at 79 and provided with pallet pins 43 which, as the pallet vibrates, permit intermittent escaping action of the escapement wheel 22. Vibration of the pallet is effected by the action of a hair spring 80 and asso-" pawl 13 is moved the same angle and it is desirable at this time that the ear train be locked. In order to accomplish ocking there is pivoted near the escapement extension 82 what I choose to call bell crank flexor which is drawncounter-clockwise by the reaction of a tension s rin 48 so that normally the lower exten ingleg thereof engages said pallet extension 82 to throw the same counterclockwise to the right, thereby lockin the escapement wheel 22 and also looking t e gear train. It is clear that under these conditions the ratchet 18 can be operated with the main spring pawl 13 without effecting gear train movement, that is to say, the lever 3 may be thrown from off to on position without effecting gear train movement, the pawl piece 13 ratcheting in the openings 76 o the main gear 19.

3 is thrown from on to oifi osition it is desirable, for reasons which will be stated, that the escapement be released so that the gear train may run 'down a predetermined amount. In order to accom lish this there is provided the upper leg 0 said bell crank flexor 12 which is adapted to be en a ed by an extending portion 83 on the switc fiandle which turns the bell crank 12 clockwise to the positionillustrated in Fig. 2 in which the the extension 82 off the line of centers be-,

tween the escapement wheel center and the i balance wheel center. Thus when the switch is brought to its 011" position there is never any chance that the escapement pallet will be ondead center, such as is the ease with watches and clocks which often require to On the other hand, when the switch handle be shaken to start them after they have run down.

The'flexor has twopurposes, namely, to act switchlever ested at the on os'itio F i 7 P a 2 shows how the flexor is provided with an offset 9t reaching through an opening 95 in the plate for reacting contact with the switch lever 3.

In the present embodiment the ratchet 18 has ten thirty degree teeth and one sixty degree tooth. The gear 19 has 12 openings corresponding to twelve angular divisions so that each time a single movement from off to on of the switch handle 3 is effected, there will be normally an advance of thirty degrees of the ratchet and main spring pawl 13, the pawl during advance strokes moving its detents from one opening to the next successive opening in gear 19. The gear at this time does not move for the reasons given above.

The main spring pawl 13 is also provided with a lug 84, which as the switch handle 3 is moved to on position is retracted in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) through a thirty degree are for every on movement of the handle 3. If the handle is moved to on position once, then a thirty degree retraction is effected and if it is moved twice a sixty degree retraction is made and so on. The purpose of the lug Set is to serve as a release for. latching parts which it was said above would be described in connection with the holding of the switch hammer in its Fig. 3 position against the compressive action of the spring 45. This mechanism will be described now.

It comprises a latch cam 9 pivoted at 85. This cam has a leftward extension 86 (Fig. 2) having a claw 87 which is adapted to hook in under the car 72 when said ear, by actuation of the switch lever 3 to its oft position. is thrown into its Fig. 2 position. A sloping face 88 on the claw permits the ear 72 to readily thrust it aside against the reaction of a time lever spring 47. The time lever spring 47 reaches from a lug 89 to one arm 90 of a bell crank lever 91 in connection with which is the time lever 8 extending to the outside of the switch. The reaction points of the time lever spring at? are so arranged that when the time lever 8 is thrown to its extreme positions. on and off, there is an overcentering action which throws the latch cam 9 into and out or" locking position. lVhen the time lever is in its on position (Figs. 1 and 2) the latch cam is ready to lock the ear 72 back whenever the switch lever 3 is thrown into on position to throw the hammer 4 to the right as shown in Fig. 3. 'henever the time lever is in its otl' position there will be no latching or locking action by the latch cam and throwing o t the switch lever 3 from 011" to oil position results in immediately breaking the circuit instead of a delayed breaking being ell'ected. It will be noted that the bell crank lever 91 for the time lever 8 is rotatably mounted on the hub member 30 (see Fig. 4).

Another feature of the sloping face 88 of the latch cam 9 is that it is adapted to be engaged by the main spring pawl 13 as said pawl returns under action of the main spring 44 on the gear train, said train being controlled by the escapement. It will be noted that for all increments of time added by throwing the switch lever 3 are equal, that is, subsequently to the first switch lever throw. That is to say, the pawl 13 moves through equal distances from its retracted position, and opening action of the switch, as the timing train runs down, is delayed proportionally to the time that it takes the pawl 13 to reach the latch cam 9. However, the interval caused by the first throw of switch lever 3 is that one in which the pawl 13 is approaching sloping face 88 of the latch cam 9. Inasmuch as this face'slopes outwardly to the pawl 13 the last interval of time is shortened, because the latch cam 9 will release the ear 72 before the pawl 13 is moved through the full thirty degree are. The advantage of this is that it it is desired to throw the switch to off position and merely walk out of the room or the like, the first delayed action will be relatively short. If it is desired to set the switch for a longer time such as until a reader falls asleep or the like, then the switch lever 3 may be operated two or more times and a proportionately longer time delay will be effected.

In Fig. 2 it will be noted that one of the teeth of the ratchet subtends twice the amount of are that the others do. The reason for this is that if the switch handle 3 is operated eleven times to set the switch for maximum time delay, it is undesirable that an operator be permitted to continue abnormally winding up the device by operating the switch handle 3. The long tooth Y prevents this because the actuating stroke of the lug 74 is not great enough to catch back on the next first tooth. Thus. the device is fool-proof.

The operation is as follows:

Assuming that the switch lever 3 and the time lever 8 are both in off positions, an operator may then throw the switch lever 3 to an on position and effect an instantaneous closure of the switch or to an off position again with immediate and instantaneous operation, that is, it operates not unlike the ordinary toggle switch. The reason for this is that when the time lever 8 is in off position (to the right Fig. 2), then the time lever spring 17 is over centered so that the latch cam 9 is moved counter-clockwise and does not latch the ear 72. Even under this mode of operation, however, the present switch has novelty, in that the lost-motion engagement between the hammer 4 and the contaetor slice 24: results in an exceedingly quick making and breaking of the circuit.

Whenever it is desirable to operate the switch with the time-delay feature, it is only necessary to throw the time lever 8 to its on position (see Figs. 1 and 2). This results in the time lcvcr spring 47 being over centered so as to force the latch cam 9 clockwise so that upon subsequently throwing the switch lever 3 to an oil position the ear 72 will spring behind the claw 87 and be caught so that upon subsequently turning the switch lever 3 to an on position the ear 72 will be held and hence also the hammer 4. Subsequently upon throwing of the switch handle 3 to an off position the toggle linkage shown in Fig. 3 will be held in circuit closing position until the gear train runs down under action of the main spring 44 and the control of the escapement mechanism. It will be appreciated that the movement of the switch handle 3 to on position resulted in the lug 74 moving the ratchet up one step and that at the same time the gear train was locked by the interfering action of the released flexor 12 on the escapement. said flexor having been released to interfere by moving the switch handle 3 part 83 to on position. The return of the switch handle 3 to off position removes the interference of the flexor 12 from the csc'apement mechanism and permits the gear train to run down and the pawl 13 to return so as to effect movement of the latch cam 9 to release the ear 72, whereupon the over-centered compressed spring 45 snaps the switch handle 4 to move the slider 24 and open the circuit.

As above described, 'for one cyclic movement of the switch handle 3 from off to on to off position results in a comparatively short time delay, because of the advanced contact with the pawl 13 effected by the sloping surface 88 of the cam 9. It will be noted that when the switch lever 3 is thrown on, that the main spring pawl member 13 rides over the then locked main gear 19 (gear 19 is in the then locked train) and the detents 77 catch in the next set of openings of the main gear for subsequent return therewith. The ratchet wheel 18 can return because when the switch lever 3 is in oil position the lug 74 had ridden up the face of said opening 71 so as to clear the ratchet teeth.

If the optimum time delay is desired, the operator after having set the time lever 8 to on position strokesthe switch lever 3 to on position enough times to provide the total amount of time delay desired. For instance, the first stroke may provide a time delay of only one-half minute or so, due to the action of the face 88. Thereafter each stroke cumulatively adds time delay in proportion to the number of strokes effected. For instance, five minutes may be added perstroke, if each ratchet tooth provides are enough that it takes the pawl five minutes to traverse the same with the particular escapement and gear train used.

One of the features of this cumulative action is that after the switch has once been turned on, subsequent stroking of the switch lever 3 does not result in the circuit being reopened, because it is locked shut by the latch cam 9 on the first stroke. The circuit is ready to spring open under action of toggle linkage (Fig. 3) whenever the switch handle 3 is turned off, whereby the flexor 12 is released and consequently the escapement and gear train. The lug 84 then returns to effect opening of the switch at a predetermined time by throwing aside the latch cam 9.

Whenever it is desired to temporarily return to non-delay action this may be done by setting the time lever 8 to off position, gtlefore, after or during operation of the han- Another advantage of this construction can be gleaned by examination of Figs. 2, 6 and 7. In Fig. 2 a triple geared train is used. This results in a greater gear reduction from the escapement to the main gear and attached main spring pawl 13. Thus a long time delay switch is effected. If it is desired to shorten the time delay, the gear member comprising gear 20-A and pinion 32 may be removed and I reason that the gear member 20, 21 is retained is that its pinion element is a coarser pitch for engagement with the coarser pitch of the main gear 19 while the gear element thereof has the same pitch as the removed gear and will mesh with the pinion 33 with which said removed gear meshed. \Vith this removal, all

other parts being the same as they were, there is effected a proportionally shorter time delay throughout the action of the switch. The

modified form is shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modification wherein two wheels in the train had been removed and the right hand gear pinion of Fig. 2 mounted on the extreme left of the train (Fig. 7 In making this change a new center needs to be located for the last axis, because the last axis in Fig. 2 is not at the same distance from the center of the main gear as the axes of the other parts of the train.

For the convenience of an operator, there is provided on the end of the shaft 55 which is fixed to the ratchet, a time indicator wheel 35 which fits into an opening 92 in the-porcelain box and which may be viewed at its periphery through the bight 58 of the cover 10, referred to in connection with Fig. 5. ,The periphery of this indicator wheel is provided with suitable indicia representing the time that it will take for the switch to run down to an off position. Clearly. the indicia advances into registry with the bight 58 as the ratchet is advanced under the manipulation tions. As the gear train runs down prior to automatically turning the switch off the time indicator wheel returns with it to zero indication. The last scale reading near zero on the indicator is shorter than the others, because of the shorter increment of time consumed for the first switch actuation, already described.

It is to be understood that the switch described is for application to circuits which are adapted to be turned oil after a time delay. It is perfectly clear that the time may be reversed so that the time delay action is effective to close the circuit after a predetermined time. This could readily be done by making the contactor move into circuit closing position after the time delay action, instead of into circuit opening position as it does now.

Another advantage of this system over previous ones is that the timing mechanism does not operate the switch per se. but merely controls it according to mechanical relay principles. The timing mechanism has very little strain on it because of the gear reduction from the escapement to the main gear. The great length of the claw arm 86 of the latch'cam provided high leverage against the action of the spring l? and thus reduces the forces required of the timing mechanism for switch opening purposes.

Another advantage is that the timing mechanism can be made small and does not add much volume to the switch because it does not operate the switch but merely controls it. The main spring 44. which stores energy from the manual operation of the operator does not feed it energy through the timing gears.

Another advantage is that the electrical elements per se are in a separate and isolated chamber and that the escapement mechanism is in another chamber, all elements being enclosed in porcelain. Hence the switch is fireproof. It is to be understood that the timing mechanism needs not be wound up from time to time because initial tension is put into the main spring and actuation of the switch lever merely winds it up tighter after which it again runs down when delayed action iseffected. The spring runs down to its initial tension condition.

It will be seen that if an operator should have the time lever in on position and serially operate the switch lever that he could leave said switch lever in the on position and the lights or the like controlled from said position would continue burning without the time delay period being reduced, unless the switch handle is turned oft. lVhen the switch handle is turned oil the time delay periods starts to become reduced as the gear train runs down to a point where the pawl 18 will trip out the latch cam 9, to permit the toggle circuit opening action.

It will be clear that if an operator should set the switch for an extended delayed action and change his mind and desire to open the circuit immediately, this could readily be done by moving the time lever to off position. This (see Fig. 2) results in tripping the latch cam 9 and freeing the lug 72 so that upon setting the switch lever B to open position, if it is not already in such position, the switch will immediately open. If the switch lever is in off position when the time lever 8 is moved to off position the switch immediately breaks the circuit.

Opening of the circuit by setting the time lever to off position while the switch lever is in off position does not affect the oper ation of the timing train. Hence, if the time delay had been set for one-half hour and then the switch immediately opened by setting both time and switch levers to off positions, the timing train would continue to run while the circuit is open (for instance, after the lights are out) then, if fifteen minutes later the switch were again turned -.n by means of the switch lever there would still remain fifteen minutes of time delay action available. However, an operator would be aware of this because the indicator 35 would show it.

It will be noted that after the time lever 8 has been snapped to off position, thereby eliminating the time delay operation, still the switch lever 3 operates the time movement.

thus preventing the movement from becoming gummed with oil, dust and lint or the like, and causing it more likely to remain in operable condition.

Likewise should the gear train freeze with foreign material. an operation of lever 3 would build up force in the main spring 44 to eventually force the freeze. It will further be noted that upon operation of the switch once per day, the operator would, un-

consciously, add power which in the end would probably break the freeze so that the operator finding the switch apparently out of order might find it back in order after a few reciprocations of lever 3.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. A time delay switch comprising a circuit controlling handle and a timing control handle. means for closing and opening a circuit from said circuit controlling handle operable instantaneously when the time control handle is in one position and operable by delayed action when the time control handle is in another position and means for effecting varione ofthe switch controlling actions comation in the time delay by repeatedly manipulating the circuit controlling handle to closed circuit position from open circuit position.

2. A time delay switch comprising a circuit controlling handle and a timing control handle, means for closing and openin a circuit from said circuit controlling handle operable instantaneously when the time control handle is in one position and operable by delayed action when the time control handle is in another position, means for effecting variation in the time delay by serially manipulating the circuit controlling handle to closed circuit position from open circuit position and means for preventing opening of the circuit during said serial operation.

3. A time delay switch comprising a circuit controlling handle and a timing control handle, means for closing and openin a circuit from said circuit controlling hand e operable'instantaneously when the time control handle is in one position and operable b delayed action when the time control han le is in another position, and means for controllin the time of delay by repeated operation 0 the circuit controlling handle when the time control handle is in said other positionl 4. A time delay switch comprising line terminals, a terminal engaging element, means for actuating the terminal engaging'element to connect and disconnect the terminals, said actuating means etl'ecting immediate connecting action of the engaging element and time delay disconnecting action of said engaging element and means for changing the duration of the time delay actuated by repeating the connecting and disconnecting actuation of the said actuating means.

5. A switch comprising line terminals, a movable engaging element, a switch lever, means for controlling movement of the engaging element from said switch lever to make and break contact with the line terminals, said lever having a spring winding position in its circuit making position, means for delaying the contact controlling function of the switch handle at the time of one of the switch controlling actions comprising a latch, means for releasing said latch driven from a spring, means controlled by repeating operation of the switch handle to increase the tension of the spring and to retract the latch releasing means, automatic means for preventing unwinding of said s ring to cause release of the latch and means or releasing said automatic means when the switch lever is retracted from its spring winding position.

6. A switch comprising line terminals, a movable engaging element, a switch lever, means for controlling movement of the engaging element from said switch lever to make and break contact with the line terminals,

means for delaying the contact controlling function of the switch handle at the time of prising a latch, means for releasing said latch driven from a spring, means controlled by re peating operation of the switch handle to increase the tension of the spring and retract the latch releasing means, automatic means for preventing unwinding of said spring to cause release ofnthe latch, means for releasing said automatic locking means when the switch lever is retracted from its spring winding position, and separately manually controlled means for throwing said latch into and out of operation.

7. A timed switch including circuit making and breaking means, an oscillatory handle controlling said means, means for delaying switch action when the handle is thrown to one extreme, means for proportionally increasing the delayed action by repeating oscillations of the handle and means for throwing the delay actuating means into operation when the handle is thrown to its opposite extreme.

8. A timed switch including circuit making and breaking means, an oscillatory handle controlling said means, means for delaying switch action when the handle is thrown to one extreme, means for proportionally increasing the delayed action by repeating oscillations of the handle and means for throwing the delay actuating means into operation when the handle is thrown to its opposite extreme, said last-named means in cluding an element operable to positively insure starting of the time delayed action when it is required and locking the same against operation when it is not required.

9. A switch comprising line terminals, a terminal engaging element, a switch handle for making and breaking contact between said engaging element and line terminals, timed means for controlling the period of delay, means for delaying subsequent switch opening when the switch isclosed, means for increasing said delay by repeating closure action of the handle, the opening repetition action subsequent to the first closure action being prevented from opening the circuit uptil said timed means causes opening there- 0 10. In a time delay switch, circuit making and breaking means, a switch lever for operating said means, a latch for temporarily holding the circuit making and breaking means in a predetermined position. latch releasing means adapted to be retracted from the latch a distance which is a function of the number of times the switch lever is operated, a timing mechanism adapted to return the latch releasing means to move the latch whereby the latter releases the switching means, the time consumed in said return being determined by the distance traveled.

11. In a time delay switch, circuit making and breaking means, a switch lever for operating said means, a latch for temporarily holding the circuit making and breaking means in a predetermined position, latch releasing means adapted to be retracted by increments a distance determined by the number of times the switch lever is operated, a timing mechanism adapted to return the latch releasing means to move the latchwhereby the latter releases the switching 10 means. the time consumed in said return being determined by the distance traveled.

12. A timed switch including circuit making and breaking means, an oscillatory handle controlling said means, means for delaying switch action when the handle is thrown to one extreme, means for proportionally in creasing the delayed action by repeating oscillations of the handle and means for throwing the delay actuating means into operation when the handle is thrown to its opposite extreme, said last-named means including an element operable to positively insure starting of the time delayed action when it is required.

13. A timed switch including circuit making and breaking means, an oscillatory handle controlling said means, means for delaying switch action when the handle is thrown to one extreme, means for proportionally increasing the delayed action by repeating oscillations of the handle and means for throwing the delay actuating means into operation when the handle is thrown to its opposite extreme, said last-named means including an element operable to lock the time delaying action when it is not required.

14. In a time delay switch. circuit making and breaking means, a switch lever for operating said means, a latch for temporarily holding the circuit making and breaking means in a predetermined position, latch releasing means adapted to be retracted by increments adistance determined by the number of times the switch lever is operated, a

timing mechanism adapted to return the latch releasing means to move the latch whereby the latter releases the switching means, the time consumed in said return being determined by the distance traveled and means providing delayed action when the switch is operated once, said last-named delayed action being less than subsequent increases in delay.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 29th day of August, 1929.

MARCUS HALL RHODES. 

